Real Madrid (A) CL Semi Final 2nd Leg - Wed 4th May, 20:00 (BST) | Pre-Match Thread

[Lavinda Past]

If someone is a Blue it doesn’t matter what nationality they are or where they live, surely. We all have different opinions about the team but we’re all Blues.

You've missed my point completely.

As much as they may 'love' City, there's absolutely no way that someone from overseas who hasn't had a local or long-term familial bond with a club can feel as strongly about winning domestic titles/trophies.

The CL is aimed very firmly at attracting a Worldwide audience. That's why ADUG bought the club, bent over backwards to get the best coach in the world, and has prioritised the trophy.

That's why we have inherited so many overseas fans over the past few years. It's not a criticism of them, it's just a fact that you won't find many who know anything about our history...

Or know why David Boler exhausts and tires...

;-)

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

The best teams aren’t the champions though are they? The champions of Malta aren’t better than second place in Spain.

Anyway it seems to me his point is you’re an idiot for obsessing with the name, I don’t think you’ve quite grasped it yet.

Excuse me for butting in but the best teams in each league are the champions of that country so are the best that year. Whether another countries league is stronger isnt relevant.

 

[domalino]

Excuse me for butting in but the best teams in each league are the champions of that country so are the best that year. Whether another countries league is stronger isnt relevant.

The aim of the competition is to have the best teams in europe play each other, not the best teams of each country.

Imagine Wimbledon if only 1 player from each country was allowed in, or The Masters, everyone would rightly point out it's fucking stupid, and so is pretending it's better to have the Bulgarian champions in the CL over Juventus.

 

[cjn]

I don’t understand the obsession with the name of the competition. They had to give it a name and chose one that sounds good. It’s an European competition of the best teams in the continent trying to fit in clubs from many countries, period. The name of the continental competition here in South America is far more ludicrous, I assure you

We have a contingent on here who for some reason would prefer to see England vs. San Marino style beatings because the the latter happen to be champions of whatever shitty domestic league they're in rather than the world's best clubs. It's weird.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

The aim of the competition is to have the best teams in europe play, not the best teams of each country.

Imagine Wimbledon if only 1 player from each country was allowed in, or The Masters, everyone would rightly point out it's fucking stupid, and so is pretending it's better to have the Bulgarian champions in the CL over Juventus.

Well....do you not think the best teams in Europe, each year win their own domestic league? I agree some of the teams in England, Spain, France, Italy & Germany have better teams finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th maybe even 5th, 6th or 7th who are stronger than the Maltese champions but (& this is only my opinion) its becoming a superleague in all but name.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Agreed.

If we went back to the days where you met Malmo in the final having beaten AEK Athens and Grasshoppers Zurich I don’t think I’d be impressed.

I don’t want to speak for all City fans as everyone is different but don’t confuse hatred of UEFA with not wanting to win the CL.

The PL is much more popular than the CL on Bluemoon but generally, and in particular Worldwide, I wouldn’t be surprised if the CL was more desired Amongst our fan base.

A lot of little Englanders on BM I think.

What's a little Englander?

 

[Deleted member 87819]

You've missed my point completely.

As much as they may 'love' City, there's absolutely no way that someone from overseas who hasn't had a local or long-term familial bond with a club can feel as strongly about winning domestic titles/trophies.

The CL is aimed very firmly at attracting a Worldwide audience. That's why ADUG bought the club, bent over backwards to get the best coach in the world, and has prioritised the trophy.

That's why we have inherited so many overseas fans over the past few years. It's not a criticism of them, it's just a fact that you won't find many who know anything about our history...

Or know why David Boler exhausts and tires...

;-)

How much contempt you show, using quotation marks in the word love because of course you think “you’re” the “real ones” and we’re “plastic”. It’s also incredibly false in perception — several fans from my continent much prefer the domestic titles. It’s also possible to have long term relationship with the club from afar and bond with the local community of fans. Brazilian City fans get together frequently to watch the games at bars, clubs or homes, we sing the chants and do everything you do at the stadium. Those of us that can also travel to watch games in Manchester or away when possible. I know North American fans behave the same way. Don’t underestimate us or pretend to know how we are. You want to say we don’t know how you feel, then I am entitled to say precisely the same to you. The unnecessary dig at knowledge of history is unbelievably stupid. I know MANY who have encyclopedic knowledge that probably trumps many of “historical fans”.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Agreed.

If we went back to the days where you met Malmo in the final having beaten AEK Athens and Grasshoppers Zurich I don’t think I’d be impressed.

I don’t want to speak for all City fans as everyone is different but don’t confuse hatred of UEFA with not wanting to win the CL.

The PL is much more popular than the CL on Bluemoon but generally, and in particular Worldwide, I wouldn’t be surprised if the CL was more desired Amongst our fan base.

A lot of little Englanders on BM I think.

To be absolutely honest, I think you'd find that we'd sell out our allocation for the European Cup final whoever and wherever we were playing.

The old European Cup was only for Champions, not Champions and a bunch of also-rans contrived to ensure that the 'favourite' teams had the best chance of making a fortune.

The old European Cup was a knockout tournament based on the FA Cup, giving every club an equal chance of winning it. The current incarnation of the tournament gives a shit team like the rags a better chance of making a fortune than a team who actually won their national league.

It's a shit tournament, beloved most by multi millionaire club owners, TV companies and star struck football tourists.

It is what it is, so we may as well try to win it. However, I'd rather win the PL any day of the week. If we were to risk losing the PL by prioritising the CL, I'd be beyond disappointed by the club.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Well....do you not think the best teams in Europe, each year win their own domestic league? I agree some of the teams in England, Spain, France, Italy & Germany have better teams finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th maybe even 5th, 6th or 7th who are stronger than the Maltese champions but (& this is only my opinion) its becoming a superleague in all but name.

How is it a superleague when Villarreal are semifinalists?

 

[Carlos- the- jackal]

How much contempt you show, using quotation marks in the word love because of course you think “you’rel” the “real ones” and we’re “plastic”. It’s also incredibly false in perception — several fans from my continent much prefer the domestic titles. It’s also possible to have long term relationship with the club from afar and bond with the local community of fans. Brazilian City fans get together frequently to watch the games at bars, clubs or homes, we sing the chants and do everything you do at the stadium. Those of us that can also travel to watch games in Manchester or away when possible. I know North American fans behave the same way. Don’t underestimate us or pretend to know how we are. You want to say we don’t know how you feel, then I am entitled to say precisely the same to you. The unnecessary dig at knowledge of history is unbelievably stupid. I know MANY who have encyclopedic knowledge that probably trumps many of “historical fans”.

You’ve never stood in dog shite on the cobbled back alleys of Moss Side though.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Funny thing about the Champions League is that it wasn't actually called that because it was for champions but because a newspaper, The Champions, were the first sponsors.

Or is that the World Series? I get my factoids confused sometimes.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

To be absolutely honest, I think you'd find that we'd sell out our allocation for the European Cup final whoever and wherever we were playing.

The old European Cup was only for Champions, not Champions and a bunch of also-rans contrived to ensure that the 'favourite' teams had the best chance of making a fortune.

The old European Cup was a knockout tournament based on the FA Cup, giving every club an equal chance of winning it. The current incarnation of the tournament gives a shit team like the rags a better chance of making a fortune than a team who actually won their national league.

It's a shit tournament, beloved most by multi millionaire club owners, TV companies and star struck football tourists.

It is what it is, so we may as well try to win it. However, I'd rather win the PL any day of the week. If we were to risk losing the PL by prioritising the CL, I'd be beyond disappointed by the club.

The rags came second in the league last year. If we come second this year on goal difference, you would rather not see us play the Champions League next year. Says it all, really.

Also, the notion that it is a “shit competition” is absolutely ridiculous. It offers every year a number of memorable games and thrilling moments. It imortalizes great sides. To claim “real fans don’t love it” goes to show how empty your points are

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Funny thing about the Champions League is that it wasn't actually called that because it was for champions but because a newspaper, The Champions, were the first sponsors.

Or is that the World Series? I get my factoids confused sometimes.

The “European Cup” was actually “Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens”, basically the same thing as today

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

A few Little Englanders knocking about on here.

 

[Cobwebcat]

To be absolutely honest, I think you'd find that we'd sell out our allocation for the European Cup final whoever and wherever we were playing.

The old European Cup was only for Champions, not Champions and a bunch of also-rans contrived to ensure that the 'favourite' teams had the best chance of making a fortune.

The old European Cup was a knockout tournament based on the FA Cup, giving every club an equal chance of winning it. The current incarnation of the tournament gives a shit team like the rags a better chance of making a fortune than a team who actually won their national league.

It's a shit tournament, beloved most by multi millionaire club owners, TV companies and star struck football tourists.

It is what it is, so we may as well try to win it. However, I'd rather win the PL any day of the week. If we were to risk losing the PL by prioritising the CL, I'd be beyond disappointed by the club.

Disagree with all of that but it’s about opinions and I’m sure many would agree with you.

 

[foggy1974]

They could’ve had Ajax, Juventus and Bayern. If Villarreal and Benfica got there, they had merit

But they haven't have they so its rubbish when you say you have to be at your best to win Ucl or are you saying Villareal are better than Juve & Bayern.

 

[foggy1974]

I want to win them both then spend the summer basking in the glory.

So do I

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

The “European Cup” was actually “Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens”, basically the same thing as today

It was a (bad) joke.

 

[JGL07]

For all the bullshit around the "Champions " league it is ironic that a club that didnt win their league as Champions for over 30 years are then considered the best in the europe/world.
Only in football could a team that shoudlnt even be in a "Champions" league have the opportunity to compete in the competition.
Much preferred the original european cup , only the champions took part , but UEFA are only interested in the money hence the emergence of their over hyped cup.

So you think that the there would be much interest in a competion featuring around four teams who could possibly win (City, Atletico, Bayern, Inter) and a few other decent teams (Sporting, Ajax, Club Bruges, Rangers?)? Beyond that the competitors would be total no-hopers. Try selling that to the TV companies let alone to the matchgoing public?

In the meantime the re-invigorated UEFA Cup would be highly competitive with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG, Real, Barca, Juve, Milan, Benfica, Porto, Dortmund, etc.

The main problem with the Champions League is its name.

Anyone expecting the the reintroduction of a 'Champions-only' competition is totally out of touch with reality (stuck in the 1980's)? If such a competition were established it would have lower interest than the current World Club Championship.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

But they haven't have they so its rubbish when you say you have to be at your best to win Ucl or are you saying Villareal are better than Juve & Bayern.

Villarreal were certainly better at playing the competition than Juve and Bayern. That is what I think people miss. League games and knockout games SHOULD be played differently